3 Strategies for Tackling Homework
Thinking back to your own school days, one thing undoubtedly stands out (and not necessarily in a good way) is homework. We know that homework is not fun, especially after a long day at school, but it is very important for solidifying and reinforcing what our children are learning during their school day. Here are three strategies for tackling homework to make it more manageable (and get it done quicker!).
Keep a dedicated homework space that is free of distractions. Nothing kills a child’s motivation to do their homework than watching a younger sibling playing nearby, or having a parent watch TV next to them. Have your child get into the routine of doing their homework in the same place every day that has the fewest distractions as possible.
For our family, our son sits at the dining table right when he gets home from school while his brother plays outside. He knows that when he comes home, he gets right to work finishing up anything he didn’t get done during aftercare; if he has finished, this is when I check all his work and sign off on his homework sheet. This could also be a desk in their room or in a parent’s office. Try to find somewhere quiet, but not so far away that you’re not available to monitor their work and help if needed.
Help your child develop a homework plan.
There are multiple ways to tackle homework, and as parents, we need to help our children develop homework strategies early on that will continue with them as they grow and the homework becomes more difficult. In our family, we prefer to start with the easier homework assignments that can get done quickly, motivating us to then tackle the longer homework assignments.
If there is a project coming up, teach your child to break it up into smaller, more manageable chunks and work on it each day, instead of cramming it all in the night before its due. This is a valuable lifelong skill they can use both in school and in their future careers. Keep the plan consistent, so even when you’re no longer helping your child with homework, their plan will still be in place.
Praise their work ethic and accomplishments.
Everyone (adults included) loves a pat on the back. When your child is working hard, especially at something that they’d prefer to not have to do, give them some praise and encouragement. Share with them how proud you are of them and how hard they’re working. Pin their assignments on the fridge, and brag about them to your friends and family (especially where they can hear you). This encouragement will motivate them to continue to work hard and will make them feel good about themselves. When a child feels motivated and encouraged, they are more likely to do their work with a good attitude, getting it done quicker.
At KCS, we have an afterschool program called
Homework Club; for a small fee, you have the opportunity to send your child to Homework Club after school Monday through Thursday till 4:30pm where they will be able to get their homework done at school with the help of a teacher. This relieves them of having to work on it at home, and gives them the opportunity to learn time management. By getting it done early, they have more time to play later. This will also give you, as a parent, more time to spend with your child NOT doing homework, but instead playing and doing things you WANT to do together.
For more information on Homework Club, visit the front office.
Spend the time now developing good homework strategies for the success of your child. You won’t regret the time and effort you put in now.
